Life, the Universe, & Running

Daily Minimalism?

There is no question that the barefoot and minimalist running trend has certainly caught fire in the running world. Shoe companies are quick to cater to the interests of the running community, who are quick to fork over the $$$ to support the latest trend. I will say from the outset that I have been skeptical of minimalist running from the beginning. The idea we were born to run this way doesn’t hold much water for me since we weren’t “born” on concrete and pavement! I am more willing to entertain the notion that minimalist running may have more benefits for trail running, but I’m on the fence there as well.

Regardless of my beliefs, one thing is for certain- any new “tool” is worthless without proper training. You wouldn’t get in the cockpit of a plane without flying lessons, so why would you lace up minimalist shoes without understanding how to run differently in them? Now, while I’m not prepared to take the plunge and buy into the trend, momentary as it may be, I am intrigued by the idea of using minimalist shoes for everyday wear. In theory, wearing these shoes has the potential to strengthen my legs by forcing me to use different muscles as I walk throughout the day.

The science is mixed about whether or not minimalist shoes decrease injury or improve running. It also seems clear that foot strike plays as much a role as choice of shoes. However, as with many “tools” of this nature, if it works well for you, then it works. Thus, I’ve been doing some research on the best minimalist shoes to purchase for everyday wear. Ideally, I’ll find a pair that blend in fairly well with my normal wardrobe so my feet don’t stand out anymore than necessary! Based on reviews, I’ve narrowed my choices down to the following shoes. If you have any thoughts or experience with them, I’d certainly love to hear from you!

DH and I both have pairs of Green Silences… we are both Brooks people. Mine are black with green accents, so they don’t stand out as much as the ones in the picture, but DH has that pair. I like them for wearing around, and I run shorter distances in them occasionally. I also wear the Vibrams around occasionally, but I’ve only ever run in them on the beach. I still wear my Brooks Ghosts for the vast majority of runs, and will probably be sticking with that.

No, but I really don’t wear them very much… I’m a flipflops/barefoot girl, so I have to really NEED to be wearing sneakers to wear them when I’m not running. I always feel a difference the next day after wearing the Vibrams.